A/n: Not edited.

Chapter 27 – Chelsea POV

Something – I wasn’t sure what – was going on with Gabriel, and normally I would use my gift on him but we had found that since completing the mate-bond that I couldn’t forcefully read his thoughts nor could he read mine. We were now somewhat on equal standing in terms of that particular gift, I had been able to receive the ability to teleport, however I hadn’t been able to use his fire – elemental – creating power yet, he tried to explain how to use it, but it wasn't working with me. But that wasn’t important, what was important was whatever he was hiding, which at first I hadn’t caught on to, so worried about Oakley that he was able to fly under my radar but now that we were finally waking Oakley up, and that spared some space for me… I could tell.



Standing in the mud room, I spied Kieran take his normal spot at the edge of the backyard, where grass merged into forest, his intense grey eyes focused on the house, mind on her as well. After giving him the canvas painting – placing it up against a tree on the ground – I had promptly turned away heading inside to find Gabriel. From the one-way glass of my dance studio, I saw that Kieran had left the painting.



I’m not taking that picture, Kieran thought, his wolf – Nyx – was silent for a moment; the Luna was being thoughtful, he told Kieran. It was then I noticed something about Kieran and his wolf. Nyx wasn’t telling Kieran that Oakley was his mate. Wolves tended to know, so why wasn’t Nyx telling Kieran I wondered. Oakley is waking up, now we won’t come down anymore... she is fine, better if we stay away Nyx, Kieran told his wolf, running, the vibrant colors of the forest blending because of his speed. We didn’t hurt Oakley, Nyx thought just at random. Better to stay away from her, Kieran answered, slowing down when they reached the same area we had found Oakley, looking over the edge, hurt here, she didn’t want to stay with us, he thought, stepping back and leaping over the ditch, going back to his cave.



Stilling my own movement I listened to Kieran, took in what he did, going over to a blanket in the corner of his cave. Smell good… he thought frustrated, his wolf saying nothing, but Kieran in wolf form went to a spot just outside his cave, almost gone… he thought angrily after sniffing the round, ‘Hobbits have no beards. There is little or no magic about them, except the ordinary everyday sort which helps them to disappear quietly and quickly when large stupid folk like you and me come blundering along, making a noise like elephants which they can hear a mile off...’ he thought of Oakley reading again, “can you do anything magical Kieran?” her eyes eagerly awaiting an answer, “I can manipulate electricity,” she revealed with a look of confusion on her “I’m not really sure how that works but I guess I’m happy I found out here, instead of back in Middleburg – Chelsea said I’m angry… I’m happy I’m here though,” Oakley said thoughtfully, continuing to read.



Now though, with Oakley gone and her scent fading, Kieran was annoyed. Going to all fours he started the trip down the mountain, three hours after he was on top of his mountain, we don’t want to be rude and not accept the Luna’s gift, Nyx thought, Kieran agreeing.



I snorted to myself just sitting across from Grant, Julia and Ben; we had begun seeing Oakley come back to us, the light down low, we just waited – some impatiently – for her to open her eyes.

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Oakley POV

“So she can hear us now?” Ben asked his voice muffled somewhat, but nonetheless I could hear them, but I couldn’t understand what had happened. How did they all get to the mountain? You aren’t on the mountain Oakley, Byrdie told me.



“Yes, she can hear you, but it’s like she’s under water,” Chelsea said, I inhaled, Byrdie was right, I couldn’t smell the rain, or the flowery ground, wet dirt, the flowers, nothing, instead I inhaled cleanliness. The harsh scent of disinfectant, Ben, uncle Grant, aunt Julia, and Chelsea the strongest, but there was a scent missing, I had followed it, but now trying to remember it, I seemed to be coming to a blank.



“Oakley can you try opening your eyes,” Chelsea asked in a low whisper, and as I tried to do what she asked, I struggled unable; everything felt heavy and weighted down, “Just rest you…” I hear uncle Grant, but I couldn’t hold onto his voice for very long, the fog between us thickening, I heard nothing after that, and I didn’t try to fight the fog.



“Do you enjoy being a wolf?” I heard aunt Julia speaking, wolf? Who was she speaking too? Chelsea? I thought unsure, everything hazy in my mind, “yes, I really love it,” a familiar voice answered – Ben? Ben wasn’t a wolf, I thought confused, “what’s your favorite part? What’s it like Ben?” aunt Julia asked and I heard Ben hum thinking of his response.



My body still felt weighted and I tried moving a limb, wiggling a toe, twitching a finger but nothing, “I love running, going fast, the – one the sides when I’m running, I really love how things just blend together, I really like the speed,” Ben said and his answer pushed me more. The harder I fought the more things I found I could feel but I soon realized that I did not like the feeling. Pain – a dull ache – took my breath away, my mouth opening before my eyes.



“Oak?”



“Bee?” Julia and Ben spoke simultaneously, “Are you awake?” I groaned, trying my hardest to open my eyes, blinking first, my head lolling to the side. Sighing, I saw blurry images of Ben with his head a foot away from mine, blinking; I tried to bring focus to his eyes, seeing utter relief in his eyes. Swinging my gaze up lazily I saw aunt Julia, her eyes red, tears brimmed to the lid, falling over, but there was no sadness there. I furrowed my brow, confusion in the pattern in my head and for a short moment, panic seized my heart, “It – I – it wasn’t real?” I moaned the load of disappointment turned my stomach. Surprise on their faces, Ben glanced up at aunt Julia, confused, “but – but you – wolf – no,” I cried my own tears, the jerking only hurting me more, but I didn’t care. “Bee? What’s wrong? Does it hurt real bad?” Ben asked me but I couldn’t answer, I shook my head forcing my hands to move, to feel my wrist.



“Oh sweetheart,” aunt Julia whispered her voice thick and low, “You’re on the island Oakley, you aren’t back in Middleburg,” she said the words that helped me, calmed me, I panted, the air burning my chest but I could handle that, being back in Middleburg just the thought was painful to me.



“I – ugh” I coughed, my throat dry, sticking my tongue out to wet my lips, I found my mouth just as dry, unable to speak, “here – here” aunt Julia fretted about pouring me a cup of water, bringing it to my lips, two sips, burned going down my throat. Nodding I pulled my lips away signaling her, “What were you thinking Oakley?” Ben asked as she drew the cup from me.



I blinked, “You went off alone, why’d you lie and not go to Chelsea’s?” closing my eyes, I concentrated, on the images coming back to me, memories, the scents – sandalwood and some fruity citrusy scent that had been teasing me, seizing my attention, the need to follow it. “Why’d you go climbing that mountain Oakley?” aunt Julia asked, stopping to give me a moment just as Uncle Grant came into the room, relief in his eyes as well, a small smile on his lips. “How are you feeling?” he asked eyeing my body unlike aunt Julia and Ben, his action forcing my eyes to follow his. With wide eyes I took in my foot, the contraption on it, pins in my leg, locked in place, I winced, but I still felt the dull ache, “What happened?” I asked a loud in a daze.



“What do you remember?” Uncle Grant countered as he sat, Ben and aunt Julia following him, I closed my eyes again thinking, the beach – Tera and Kiley talking about Kieran – the scent in the wind, Ben playing volleyball with the other kids, leaving the beach, I started following the scent. When I opened my eyes I found myself playing with the sheet draped over my torso and left leg while the right was pinned. “Oakley… this” uncle Grant waved his arm around, “coming here and staying here won’t work if you’re still hiding things, I know that your aunt and I won’t be able to completely relate since you’re werewolves-”



My head swung to meet Bens eyes, “you’re a wolf?” I said sniffing and sure enough his scent had changed some.



“When?” my mind was foggy, Ben’s face reddened, he shrugged, “I was angry, you weren’t with Chelsea like you said and it was raining real badly and – and Chels” he called her and I glanced down at my leg, how long was I here? But Ben continued, “She couldn’t hear you at all, and then I got angrier and then my bones begun breaking…” he stopped but I could tell there was more.



I nodded, “did it hurt?” Ben wasn’t a liar, he nodded his head quickly, “A lot,” he clarified, “for hours!” he exclaimed. My eyes widened, “I’ve been like this for hours?” I asked in shock. He shook his head slowly, “it’s been two weeks…” my head whipped to uncle Grant but he just nodded in agreement.



“You were hurt – badly injured I mean, when we finally got to see you it was horrible much less how Chelsea actually found you up on that mountain, which you still haven’t said why you were up there Oakley,” Grant chided softly.



“Well…” I huffed, “there was a scent, it was smelled so good,” I avoided all their eyes, “I couldn’t concentrate on anything else-”



I shook my head, “Wait I was hurt on the mountain, is Kieran okay?” I turned to uncle Grant, his smile small he nodded. “He uhm… he comes to see if you’re okay…”



“In human form?” I asked surprised remembering what Tera and Kiley had said. “No, as a wolf,” he answered. I sighed resting back, I couldn’t explain but it felt nice knowing that he was coming to check on me, also that I was right and it was Kieran and not some other wolf on the island.



“I still can’t believe I’ve been sleeping for two weeks, though,” I said absently, “Jack thought it’d be better – you’d be in too much pain if we woke you right away.”



“What happened?” I asked pushing aside the fog, “I mean I remember being on the mountain, and then it started drizzling, and I knew I had to come back, Kieran – Kieran…” I closed my eyes concentrating; he kept nipping at my legs, trying go ahead of me? I opened my eyes focusing on uncle Grant.



“Was most likely trying to keep you on the mountain with him because it was tricky to get down when wet… you slipped and rolled down on said mountain-”



“And the only thing injured was my leg,” I eyed it, shivering at the large pins, rods and clamps. “No, you had two cracked ribs, your leg was crushed, they had to cut a patch of your hair-” I lifted my hand to touch my head, feeling around until I felt a small area gone, slowly rubbing my finger back and forth I felt the ultra smooth skin that felt like the healed wound on my wrist. “Chelsea has been healing you up - a bit - each day so that you won’t be in too much pain now, and instead of six weeks with the rods and pins, it’s only going to be a few more days…” I blinked at his words, thinking – absolutely taken back that Chelsea was healing me – even after I had kept something from everyone, that Ben had shifted, but even with those details my mind went slowly back to Kieran each time.

By the fifth day after waking up, I was no longer myself. I couldn’t put my finger on it precisely, but everything felt off, worse than when I was back in Middleburg. Chelsea and Ava visited every morning, along with Ben. Chelsea had began training with him, Aunt Julia and Grant recorded their hour sessions, so he could really learn from his mistakes, but I think they were just so proud and they wanted to have something to show my dad when we returned. There wasn’t much that I could do, I couldn’t walk and didn’t really leave this room at all, and granted Chelsea was speeding up my healing process I hated not being involved or around with Ben… especially with Kieran.



Not wanting to think of that or feel sorry for myself I reached over to grab my ipad, going to ibooks and seeking something to read. I had asked for me, hoping it had survived the fall and rain, luckily with the protection case it had, but Chelsea told me it died by the time they tried to use it to search for me. More and more, pieces of what had happened came back to me, the rolling, when my rib cracked that searing hot pain, reaching out to hold onto something but only making the situation worse when a branch I tugged on, loosened the boulder that was rolling after me. I remembered, slightly, the hit my head took, bouncing and everything going black, luckily for me, before I could feel the boulder crushing my right foot.



Do you want to continue reading ‘The Hobbit’? The app asked, my finger hovering over ‘yes’ froze, I did want to continue but the last time I read it – with Kieran – he seemed to like it so maybe I’d read it with him again, I thought to myself. Tapping ‘no’ I exited that app going to the music section instead, playing ‘stranger’ by Katie Costello, laying the device down, I reached for my text book and notebook deciding to work on school work instead. I didn’t expect to have school or homework here, but after the second day of complaining of boredom Chelsea along with Marlon came with my supplies. Explaining that everyone here that was school aged attended school, granted it was only four hours a day, Monday – Friday.



I continued working on my math assignment until Kiley and Tera barged into the room, “Hey! Chelsea said to bring down your dinner,” Kiley said holding two trays, Tera one. Each girl with a backpack and sleeping bag hitched on their backs. I had forgotten of the sleepover plans we had, something Tera and Kiley did, but instead of having it at one of their homes, they were having it here since I couldn’t leave. It was a new thing for me, even when we were back home I didn’t get invites to parties or sleepovers, not like Amelia and even if I was having the sleepover, I’d have no one to invite.

Kiley with two trays placed both of them on the table as I moved my books aside. Taking off their loads, sitting them on the ground, each sitting in the large chairs on either side of my bed. They placed their own food on the side trays as revealing mouthwatering pizza slices, “Hmm your sister is such a good cook,” Tera mumbled with a mouth full, I smiled lifting my own pizza slice to my mouth, humming as the gooey cheese hit my taste buds. “Oh we forgot the drinks,” Tera mumbled standing, “What do you guys want?” she said near the door.

“Water,” I answered, “Ice-tea,” Kiley said after swallowing.

“So what’d you do today?” Kiley asked. I lifted a brow eyeing my leg, and then rolling my eyes. “The highlight of my day was my math homework,” I snorted before taking a bite.

“Oh… but it doesn’t look as bad… when they first brought you in… yikes!” she frowned around her food, chewing loudly. I bit small pieces of my food, swallowing, “So did you guys train today?” I asked stupidly, they trained everyday at the beach or at the gym. I knew that. Still Kiley just nodded, “yeah at the beach,” she continued stuffing her mouth. I nodded to myself, this was all pointless conversation, not that I wasn’t interested but I was asking for a reason.

“You should just ask,” Kiley said smirking a bit, a big knowing smile on her face, “Kieran didn’t come to watch us,” she said laughing as my face heated, “You’re so lucky!” she gushed laughing but instantly stopped, her eyes going wide. My brows knitted up in confusion, I swallowed, “Why?”

“Oh – oh,” she bit into her pizza faster than before, shrugging, avoiding my eyes before finally saying, “because you don’t have – to – uhm train with us,” her words coming out more like a question than a statement, her heart was beating much faster and I could tell she was lying, we were talking about Kieran, but now she’s mentioning training? I just nodded because I didn’t think calling someone a ‘liar’ was the way to keep friends, “So what are we watching?” she asked in a squeaky unusual voice, eager to switch subjects. Yeah, she was definitely lying, now I really couldn’t wait to get out of this bed.

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Vote (if you liked it).

So I know many want to know about Jack, Russel, Walter, Oakley... and all the other things - violins, elders, Sarah - but these next chapters are dealing with them, so I'm not forgetting anyone/anything. Please be patient, thank you.

What do you think Gabriel is hiding?

Also I know some have been confused on when Chelsea is reading someone's thoughts. So I thought I'd explain, I've been doing it since 'unexpected' but if you haven't read those it may be confusing. When something is in bold/italics, it's chelsea hearing someone or her wolves. When something is in italics, it's chelsea talking to her wolves or someone over the mindlink. Most times I will say right after those thoughts or commands who said/thought them. Hope this helped.

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